Page 116 of Maybe We Can Fake It

They’ve been trying, and I’m the only one who hasn’t been. If I want to be closer to them, maybe all I need to do is put in the effort.

And it sounds like I’m going to get the chance, if they’ll be living here soon. It’s strange how I don’t actually hate that thought. Guess we’ve already made some progress.

When I glance at May, she’s watching me closely, her eyes cautious but hopeful. She wants this. She must be thrilled at the idea of her grandparents moving here, but I suspect she’s holding back her reaction for my benefit. Because she’s worried about howIfeel.

I give her a reassuring smile before I turn back to Elise and Grant. “I think having the two of you closer would be great.”

For once, I’m not lying to them.

At my words, May squeals and jumps out of her seat, a huge grin taking over her face. First, she hugs me, whispering in my ear how much she loves me, then she hugs each of her grandparents. Everyone’s smiling now.

And damn, I wish Travis were here to see this. I think he’d be happy for me. Probably even proud of me. But he’s not here, which again puts a huge damper on my mood. A sad sigh slips out before I can stop it.

Elise catches it and frowns. “I’m so glad you won’t mind us being here,” she tells me. “But honestly, Brenden, I’m still confused about what happened with Travis.”

I turn my gaze out the window. The flowers on the magnolia tree have wilted. “I told you,” I say, unable to look at her. “It was all fake.”

Grant clears his throat, forcing my attention. “So you mean the two of you were never dating? At all?”

“Nope.” Despite what I thought was happening, none of it was real.

Both Grant and Elise still look like they don’t get it, and I don’t know what’s so confusing here. I mean, sure, it’s confusing forme. But it shouldn’t be for them.

“But we thought...” Grant says.

“I realize how messed up it was to lie to you,” I offer, desperately wishing we could stop going over this. It doesn’t matter what they thought. It doesn’t matter whatIthought.

All I want to do right now is hide in my room under the covers. And maybe learn sorcery, so I can cast a spell that makes me forget how phenomenal it felt kissing Travis fucking Reed.

Damn it.Every time I get in my bed at night, I’m going to be reminded of what we did there. Maybe tomorrow I should go shopping for a new bed. That’s completely rational, right?

“We’re not mad,” Elise says. And the look she gives me is full of pity, which almost makes me wish theyweremad instead. “What he’s trying to say is that we don’t understand how that could have all been fake, because...” As she trails off, she averts her eyes down to the table. “Well, because we saw you on the couch that day. And also, we, um,heardyou two. You know. At night.”

Oh, god.

I’m not sure which of us turns more red. “Oh. Okay. Yeah, I’m sorry about that. We just, uh...”

While I struggle to come up with a polite way to explain that Travis and I were only hooking up because it was fun and convenient or whatever, May’s got her lips pressed tightly together and she’s shaking, obviously holding in her laughter. I can’t believe she’s hearing this. My sex life isn’t something I discuss with her. Though she’s clearly not too shocked by it.

I shoot her what I hope comes across as a stern parental look. A look that says,This is none of your business, and don’t you dare laugh at me.Unfortunately, this doesn’t work, and in fact, it seems to have the opposite effect. The barely contained laughter escapes her in a short, loud burst that makes Elise jump.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry,” Elise says. “We shouldn’t have said anything. But I could see how hurt you were at what Travis saidtoday, and it just seems clear to me that he must not have meant it.”

“He said it,” I reiterate with more than a tinge of bitterness. “I can only assume he meant it.”

“No,” Grant says firmly. He curls his hand over the top of his coffee mug and shakes his head. “I know we only recently met that man, but I could see it plain as day from the beginning.”

“See what?” I ask.

“How strong his feelings are. I’m pretty damn sure he loves you.”

I open my mouth to disagree, then close it. My desire to believe he’s right overrides my rational thinking for a moment. But no. That can’t be true. If Travis loved me, he would’ve told me. He wouldn’t have disregarded me so easily. Like I was nothing. Just leftover food on a plate to be scaped into the diner’s garbage.

“If you guys don’t mind,” I say, avoiding eye contact with everyone as I stand, “I’d prefer not to talk about this anymore. I appreciate you not being upset with me. But whatever Travis and I were doing, it’s done now.”

Without waiting for any responses, I walk out of the kitchen and head up to my room. I’ll let myself wallow today. Listen to Adele, maybe eat a gallon of ice cream. But tomorrow, I need to start finding a way to move on.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

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